Girls' School Host New Parents' Dinner

Last night the Girls’ School Hall was transformed to a dinner venue to welcome over 90 guests for the inaugural New Parents’ Dinner, hosted by Head of Primary, Dr Sandra Hastie and her senior leadership team. Families whose girls have started at the School since Term 3 last year, through to those who will be starting before Term 3 this year, were invited to join together with staff and guests for an evening of entertainment, socialising and fine dining.

After pre-dinner drinks and hors d’oeuvres, Dr Hastie invited guests to take their seats, reassuring the parents that the evening was for relaxing and getting to know one another – joking that there wouldn’t be a donation envelope hidden under their dinner plate!

Prior to dinner, Dr Hastie introduced two students to entertain. Year 6 student, Megan White is a Speech and Drama Honours student who confidently delivered a passage from the book Demon Dentist by the popular author David Walliams. She was followed by Year 7 student, Ava Beca who has been studying ballet since she was five and is currently a member of the Auckland High Performance Dance Programme which she fits around her many other school commitments. Ava’s secret goal is to join the New Zealand Ballet and her performance suggested she was well on the right track!

Chaplain, Reuben Hardie said Grace before the guests enjoyed a fabulous dinner and a chance to chat.

Dr Hastie told the parents that she has be involved with the lives of young people for over 30 years and the many students she has encountered from all walks of life have shaped and moulded her over the years. She acknowledged that the students of today may not have the luxury of the same profession for a life time and it is the shared duty of school and home to prepare them for that future world of change.  She also explained that Saint Kentigern is more than just a school – families are welcomed and encouraged to be involved. It’s a way of life and a partnership based on a combination of values, tradition and excellence, combined with innovative thinking and approaches that the future will demand. 

As a fellow parent, Mr Craig Knox was invited to speak. Mr Knox is in the unique position of having a daughter at the Girls’ School, a son at the Boys’ School and another daughter who has now moved onto the College. Both girls were enrolled in the former Corran School at the time of the merger. He is passionately committed to his children’s place of learning and is a strong advocate for Saint Kentigern and the educations his children have received. He said that it had been his experience that it was ‘very hard for a student to get ‘lost’ here and equally very easy to be seen…this has been instrumental in building his children’s confidence.’

Final speaker for the evening was a former Girls’ School Head Girl, Georgia McLeish who is now in Year 11 at the College. Always a confident speaker, Georgia spoke from the heart about the importance of her time at the Girls’ School in preparing the way for College life. She said, ‘The entire faculty inspired us, and challenged us to not only meet our goals but to surpass them whenever possible. They taught us to never lose sight of who we were, and by simply believing in ourselves, we could be whatever we wanted to be.  Once I was armed with the ‘small but mighty’ spirit, the College was all mine, to make of it what I desired!’ Georgia has gone on to commit herself fully at the College, telling the parents that she believes, ‘ The Girls’ School produces confident young women, who are kind and considerate of others.’

In her closing words, Dr Hastie said ‘We hope that you will leave tonight knowing more about Saint Kentigern Girls’ School and feeling confident that you have placed them in the best independent Girls’ Primary School in Auckland; a school where they will have the opportunity to learn, grow and become a confident young women who will go on to make a difference.’

Our thanks to Mrs Karyl Kidd for her organisation and  the following sponsors for so generously supporting the evening:
Beautiful House, Greenscene Limited, Heritage Hotels, Keith Hay Homes, Khan Family Trust, Legacy Life, PB Technologies, SKOCA, Stanfield family and Terra Vin Wines.